Materials Engineers Salary in Richmond, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Richmond, VA

Median annual salary $102,700 -5.2% vs national
Median hourly $49.38
10th percentile $59,260
90th percentile $163,840
Employed locally 190
National median $108,310

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Materials Engineers
in
Richmond, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,260
    25th
    $59,320
    50th (median)
    $102,700
    75th
    $123,960
    90th
    $163,840

    Richmond economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,405 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Engineers salary vs area income 122% Median Materials Engineers salary is 22% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Materials Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $151,260
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $147,080
    Boulder, CO $141,320
    Washington $140,810
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $140,810
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $140,180

    Nearby metros — Materials Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $151,260
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $135,500
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $135,400
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $118,830
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $107,560
    Nevada $97,580

    Related occupations in Richmond, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers$88,920
    Industrial Engineers$100,720
    Electrical Engineers$110,500
    Mechanical Engineers$101,210
    Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,150
    Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$92,840

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Richmond?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Engineers in Richmond, VA is $49.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $79.28 or more per hour.

    Is Richmond above or below average for Materials Engineers salaries?

    The median Materials Engineers salary in Richmond, VA is 5.2% below the national median of $108,310. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Materials Engineers in Richmond?

    Entry-level Materials Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $59,260 per year in Richmond, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $59,320.